The Review at the End of the Universe
“Summer School: Chapter Seven” Stargirl slows the pace of its development to allow its characters to take stock of their current situation, the breathing room not being as helpful to everyone as might have been hoped. As I made clear in last week’s gushing review, “Chapter Six” was a truly spectacular episode of action and…
“Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. (Part 2)” Stargirl comes to the end of its inaugural season with a suitably exciting climax. Showdowns are had, lessons are learned, emotions are addressed, and the fate of millions of people is decided. It’s been a fast first ride for Stargirl, but it has more than made an impact with its…
“Brainwave Jr” Stargirl continues its theme of villain stories, and comes around to one of the series’ most loathsome characters, and interestingly also attempts to infuse him with the most moral ambiguity seen to date. If you’ve been reading these reviews, you’ll be well aware I’ve made no secret of how much I utterly despise…
“Brainwave” Stargirl continues its focus on the villainous characters, revealing what turned Brainwave into a psychotic killer and teasing whether that legacy will be inherited by his son. Origin stories are certainly nothing new in comic book TV series, but most often they are that of a protagonist whose growth from nobody to hero forms…
“Shiv (Part 2)” Stargirl continues spending too much time looking at Cindy, the psychotic assassin Shiv. The last episode was something of a disappointment, mainly on account of the attempts to make us empathise with her and put an alternative spin on her hateful personality falling flat. This follow up puts things slightly back on…
“Hourman and Dr Mid-Nite” Stargirl continues the rolling out of teenage superheroes with a double dose of introductions, completing, for now, the new generation of the Justice Society. Much of the focus of Stargirl so far has been the motivations of why its growing ensemble of characters turned to either heroism or villainy, with each…
“Wildcat” Stargirl begins Courtney’s recruitment drive for a new generation of the Justice Society, learns that people have issues to get over before becoming as enthusiastic as her, and the brief backstory of an important supporting character is revealed. The episode begins with a three-months-past flashback relating what happened to Yolanda to turn her into…
“Icicle” The end of S.T.R.I.P.E. saw Icicle return to Blue Valley to take over control of the New America Project, and also to take out the mysterious Stargirl who has inexplicably appeared to throw a glowing Cosmic Staff-shaped wrench into their plans. Now we get a proper introduction to the villain who is behind whatever…
“S.T.R.I.P.E.” Stargirl concludes its two-part opening, seeing our nascent heroine Courtney begin to find her place in her new town, face her first challenge, and decides for herself what it means to be a hero. The pilot episode of Stargirl cut things off mid-scene, right as Pat appeared to Courtney in his S.T.R.I.P.E. armour, and…
“Pilot” The first new Arrowverse show post-“Crisis On Infinite Earths“ technically isn’t yet a part of it as it takes place on Earth-2, one planet in the rebuilt multiverse that the residents of the newly minted Earth-Prime mistakenly believe no longer exists, but things will probably get linked back up sooner or later. We follow…
